Anatolian Travel Archives: Çatal Höyük (Fork Mound)
Sometimes it’s the unseen that is the most fascinating. The imagination can drift back to a time far before we existed to wonder about...
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Turkish Fortune-Telling Culture
After observing several overturned coffee cups with increasing curiosity during my first few months here, it became apparent that one does not simply sip...
In Conversation with Itır Erhart on Running and the Adım Adım...
Itır Erhart, an Assistant Professor at the Media School, a part of Istanbul Bilgi University’s Faculty of Communication, studies a wide range of topics,...
Ramadan in Türkiye: A Primer
Ramadan, pronounced in Turkish as Ramazan, is once again upon us. There are the basic tenets of the month-long fast that anyone living in...
There’s No Such Thing as a Simple Turkish Wedding
The marriage bureaucrats at the Şişli marriage bureau seem like the unhappiest people in the world. Just a few meters from the miniature theater, where everyday...
Dancing for Haydarpaşa
Sunday, 8 December had Haydarpaşa Station hosting a danceathon like no other. The tango, swing and salsa communities of Istanbul staged what can only...
Ancient Love Affair: Carian Project, a Self-Initiated Artist Residency
After moving from Istanbul to the small village of Turunç in southwest Turkey’s Muğla region, I finally had the time and energy to explore...
The Şakirin Mosque
There are more than 3000 active mosques in Istanbul and, in terms of architectural style, they can generally be categorized as either Byzantine (ancient...
St. Mary of the Mongols: The Last Byzantine Church
Nowadays Istanbul is known for its mosques, but prior to 1453, Constantinople was a completely Christian city replete with churches. Many of them exist to this day:...
Istanbul: So Good They Named It Thrice
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet
True facts, Shakespeare, true facts. And while I...
(Sep 18 – Oct 5) 48th Istanbul Music Festival by IKSV
From the organizer:
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) with the support of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and...
Five Beloved Turkish TV Series from the 2000s
Every New Year's Eve, Turks reminisce about the early 2000s and its classics. Rightly so, if there was something special about the 2000s, it...
Legends of Turkey: Sarıkız
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl with shiny blonde hair that ran down her shoulders and sweet hazel eyes which sparkled...
Setting of Records: Istanbul’s New Mosque
Three years ago building of a new mosque began on one of the highest hills of the city, where roosters still crow and visitors...
Turkish Customs and Etiquettes: Görücü and Kız İsteme
Back in the day, mothers with unwed sons would often be on the look out for a good single girl to wed their sons...
The Pursuit of Happiness in the ‘Bul
In this megacity, which delivers stress in seemingly increasing dosages year by year, I’m realizing that it is essential to wear a different pair...
City Highlights: Sancaklar Cami
A friend of mine from the Czech Republic once told me her feelings while she visited Istanbul one year ago. She said that it...
And Now the Good News @ Pera Museum (April 13 –...
Pera Museum is currently hosting a thought provoking exhibition exploring critical issues in science, culture, and politics in the last 150 years, curated by...
6 Permanent Istanbul Collections Worth (Re)visiting
What comes to your mind, when you hear the word Istanbul? After living here for almost four years, there are many words and associations which...
Small Projects Istanbul: Emphasizing Education
“They first need to learn Turkish to be better integrated into their Turkish communities -- namely, their schools,” stressed Anna Tuson, the communication manager...
Levantine Lessons: Discovering Syria in Istanbul
“Light is more important than the lantern,
The poem more important than the notebook”
― Syrian poet, Nizar Qabbani
To the general public, Syria has become...
İş Sanat Launches 20th Season
İş Sanat has launched its 20th season, with the Borusan Philharmonic, under the baton of Thomas Rösner and featuring the young virtuoso Demirhan Gokbudak,...
16th Istanbul Biennial: The Seventh Continent
IKSV has announced the title and conceptual framework of its 16th Istanbul Biennial. The Biennial will be taking place between September 14th and November...
Tribute to Ayran: An Expat Love Story
Writing about the allure of ayran has been on my agenda for over a year now. Every time an expat informs me that they...